Cartridge



(No Model.)

B. LONG. CARTRIDGE.

No. 448.057- Patented Mar. 1o. 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISENJAMIN LONG, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 448,057, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed June 20,1890. Serial No. 366,067. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t Hwy concern,.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boulder, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side view of my improved ride-cartridge. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of my improvement as applied to a shot-car Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the bullet with its split casing or jacket removed from the shell or cartridge case. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the shot-cartridge removed from the shell. Fig. 6 is an end view of the jacketed bullet shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the same on line or, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an end view of the shot-cartridge shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the same on line yy in Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to cartridges or socalled fixed ammunition, and is applicable alike and with equal advantages to riilecartridges charged with bullet and shotgun-cartridges charged with shot of any desired size, the object of my invention being to prevent the barrel from leading, and also to insure y a more steady and uniform iiight of the bullet or shot, (as the case may be) combined with a comparatively fiat trajectory.

My im rovement consists in the combination, wit the projectile, whether this be a bullet or a charge of shot, of a peculiarly-con-l structed jacket or envelope made of wood'or other similar material, and so constructed that it will split into pieces, iiy apart, and bccome detached from the bullet or shot after the same leaves the muzzle of the gun.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, the letter A denotes the shell. or

cartridge case, 13 the powder-charge, and C the projectile. The latter may be either a single bullet, asin Figs. 1, 2, and 4, or it may be a compact charge of shot of any desired size, as in Figs. 3 and 5. If the projectile is solid, (as, for example, a riiie-bullet,) it is made pointed and tapering and without grooves or cannelures, and is inserted point foremost into the cylindrical jacket D, which has a recess E of such a size' aud shape as to fit the bulletor picket closely. I prefer to make this jacket or envelope D of Wood, cut with the grain, so that it will split longitudinally into sections and ily apart, leaving the bullet naked after the lattereleaves the muzzle ot the gun. To provide for this splitting and parting of the jacket or envelope D, its forward end is cupped or concaved, as shown at F, and bored through centrally, at G, into the projectile-recess E. The rim or edge H, formed by the concavity F, is split or slitted longitudinally, as shown at I, so that as'the jacketed projectile leaves the muzzle at a high velocity the resistance of the air, operating in the cup or concavity F in the front endA ot the jacket, will split the jacket longitudinally along the slits I into four or more parts or sections, (according to the number of slits,) this splitting of the body of the jacket being -facilitated by the central bore or aperture G,

which connects the cup F with the projectilerecess or shotchamber E.

Although as a matter of convenience and economy I prefer to use Wood for the construction of the jacket D, (because wood is cheap, takes the ritling easily, keeps the barrel clean, and splits readily,) yet I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to any particular substance or material for the jacket or envelope.

When used with shot, the chamber E is closed by a thin wad J to confine the shot in the usual manner, the jacket operating in that case not only as a preventive of leading the barrel, but ,also as a shot-concentrator, so that by the aid of my improvement shot may be tired from a cylindrical smooth-bore barrel with the same concentrating and far-carrying eiiect as from a choked barrel. When used for rifle-cartridges, the jacket willexpand, and not only effectually prevent lead- IOC ing of the barrel and keep the sa-nic in goed condition, but it dispenses with the use ot lubricants and patches and permits ot the firing of hard bullets without the least injury to the lands or grooves of the ride, as the projectile itself does not come into contact with these while passing through the barrel,

I am Well aware that it not new to cover solid projectiles with a jacket or casing of metal, leather, papier-mache, and many other Substances, and I am also aware that so-called shot -conceutrators, or wire cartridges, have been used before for the purpose ot concentrating or buuching the shot fired from a cylinder-gun. I do not, therefore, claim such devices broadly; but

That I claim as my improven'ient, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A cylindrical projectile jacket or envelope made of wood or equivalent material adapted to split longitudinally, having at its rear end a recess or chamber adapted to fit and cover the projectile and at its front end a. cup-shaped recess or concavity, said' two recesses being connected by a central bore, substantially as and. for the purpose shown and set forth. V

2. A cylindrical projectile jacket or envelope made of Woodor equivalent material adapted to split longitudinally, having at its rear end a recess or chamber adapted to lit and cover the projectile and at its front end a cup-shaped recess or concavity, the sides of which are split longitudinally, substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

3. A projectile embedded in a jacket or envelope of Wood or equivalent material adapted to split in the direction of the greatest length of the projectile, the forward part of said jacket being cup-shaped and extended in front of the projectile, with a central bore or aperture connecting said cup-shaped recess with the recess in which the projectile is embedded, and having lthe edges of the recessed forward part ot the jacket slitted longitudinally, substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

4. A cartridge comprising in its make-up the following elements, viz.: -the cartridgecase A, powder-charge B, projectile C, and jacket D, havin-g cup-shaped recess F, split longitudinally at I, and central bore G, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the forego-ing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

BENJAMIN LONG.

Witnesses: j

CHAs. M. CAMPBELL, J. I-I. OBRIEN. 

